Wandsworth Welcomes Refugees will call for a pledge from the council to take more child refugees, when commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Kindertransport.

They’ll be joining national calls on the UK government to fund the resettlement of 30 child refugees over the next 10 years.

They are working with Phosphorus Theatre to stage extracts from their latest piece Pizza Shop Heroes. The extracts will be an exploration of their experiences of coming to the UK.

It tells the story of male and cultural identity, of migration stories shaped by Europe’s colonial past, of family and fatherhood.

Wandsworth Welcomes Refugees are putting on the piece as part of their campaign to get Wandsworth Council to offer at least 3 places for unaccompanied child refugees resettled from Europe and conflict regions per year.

They are calling for funding for the scheme to come from Central Government and stay at least at current levels.

The performance is one of many being staged across the country, as community leaders unite to persuade councils to make pledges as part of the national Our Turn campaign to resettle 10,000 children, headed by Kinder survivor Lord Alf Dubs and supported by the refugee charity Safe Passage.

Ellie Cusack, the Chair of Wandsworth Welcomes Refugees said: “This performance is a chance for local people and faith leaders to come together and honour the legacy of the Kindertransport and the thousands of lives that were saved.

“Here in Wandsworth we can do our bit to help with the plight of unaccompanied child refugees who are stranded in camps across Europe and at risk of trafficking and exploitation, which is why we are calling on Wandsworth Council to join with councils across the country and pledge to take at least 3 children a year.

“Here in Wandsworth we have already welcomed five Syrian families, and 19 accompanied minors. The scheme is working and shows that when a refugee resettlement is funded properly it can work well. We want to show what a welcoming place Wandsworth is. That’s why we are calling for at least 30 places for child refugees over the next 10 years.”

Organisers are looking forward to a meeting with the council to discuss refugee resettlement.

Fleur Anderson, a Labour Councillor and member of Wandsworth Welcomes Refugees, added:

“During the Kindertransport, 10,000 children came to the UK, they were they were welcomed in foster homes, schools, hostels and farms. We are calling for the same thing to happen, not just now now but over the next ten years.

“Now it’s our turn to help child refugees today. Councils from London to Kinross are already pledging places. We want to show leadership and that the people of Wandsworth care about child refugees by joining in with this national pledge.

Reflecting on the performances and the need for councils to support the campaign, Our Turn’s creator Michael Morpurgo said: “This will be an act of communal caring, a recognition of responsibility on behalf of us all. We have been shown the way. Let’s do it, for the refugee children, for ourselves as a people.”

A Wandsworth Council spokesperson said: "The council takes its humanitarian obligations very seriously indeed. We are currently looking after 94 children, including some from Syria, who have arrived in the UK without parents or other adult relatives, while in the past year alone we have helped 25 other households who’ve been granted asylum or permission to remain in the UK having fled 14 other countries."

The play will take place on September 18 at 5pm. It will be held at the At Theatre503.